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Four "rabbit control" quadrants will exist for about 200 total rabbits.

Victoria, B.C. - The University of Victoria announced plans Monday to cull, or sterilize and relocate 1,400 rabbits that have overrun the campus.

About 200 rabbits will be allowed to stay on university grounds within Ring Road.

The surplus rabbits are to be removed by a contractor using traps. The captured rabbits either will be sterilized and relocated or euthanized by undisclosed methods. Community members who wish to accommodate sterilized rabbits can apply for a permit from the Ministry of Environment.

Details of UVic’s feral rabbit management plan were released yesterday, evoking a mixed reaction from those who advocate for the rabbits. “I feel positive in the sense that our success will be proportional to how the community responds,” said Susan Vickery of Common Ground, a Gulf Islands-based wildlife assistance organization.

A pilot program last winter failed because rescue organizations were unwilling to have their property and cages inspected to ensure ministry specifications were met.

Vickery is worried UVic’s plans will prompt some people to grab rabbits and take them home to “save” them. “I’m really hoping the university’s response and our engagement will redirect some of that energy, so people will get on board and work toward a positive result.”

“We feel the university has lost their way and they need to catch up with the community, which is putting out really progressive, sustainable, economical and humane alternatives.”

The university’s plan sets out with military precision “rabbit-free” zones for playing fields and other areas outside Ring Road. The core of the campus inside the road will be declared “rabbit control zones,” with 50 rabbits allowed in each of four quadrants.

“It will reduce the population of rabbits in the short term to a number we consider sustainable … it’s a big reduction,” Smith said.

Anyone in the community can apply through the Ministry of Environment to provide a sanctuary for the feral rabbits. “Realistically, we hope there’s a capacity in the community to go through the permitting process and receive rabbits,” Smith said.

But there are far more rabbits on campus than prospective homes, he suggested. “I don’t think we’re fooling ourselves — I don’t think there’s the capacity out there for 1,000 rabbits.”

The surplus rabbits will be trapped. Those that can’t be accommodated in the community will be euthanized by a humane method recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Smith would not elaborate on methods being considered.

There are now about 400 rabbits living within the area circumscribed by Ring Road, Smith said, and removing half of them will improve conditions for survivors. “The concept is the food supply will better, the rabbits will be healthier. They’re still territorial, so generally we would expect them to stay where they are. And we’re hoping there’s a volunteer community who will come forward and create things like feeding stations.”

The plan is a test, he said. “If it’s still too many [rabbits], we’ll have to revisit it.”

UVic sent out letters to the veterinary community seeking their involvement in the future care of rabbits within Ring Road. The rabbit population “got out of hand” over the last few years, Smith said. “We certainly didn’t anticipate this increasing so fast.”

The number of rabbits that need to be killed or removed is unfortunate, Smith added. “We’re not happy at having to deal with this, but we’re also not prepared to wait for four or five years for a spay/neuter program to take effect.

“There’s lots of people who disapprove of it and we don’t like it ourselves, but it’s a decision the university has made.”

The plan will go into effect later in the summer and carry on through the winter months, Smith said.

Organizations like Common Ground don’t have capacity to take on rabbits in the numbers UVic has to offer, so she applauds the university’s decision to open up relocation offers to the community.

The university’s neighbours are applauding the plan. “If people hadn’t abandoned their pets on campus, we wouldn’t be faced with this,” said Mike Wilmut, president of the North Henderson Residents’ Association, in a release.

“UVic is having to deal with the aftermath. Hopefully, some rabbits can be relocated by community groups but the rabbit population has grown too large for that to be the sole solution to keeping rabbits from migrating into campus neighbourhoods and other nearby areas.”

The B.C. SPCA is encouraging municipalities to pass laws prohibiting the sale of non-sterilized rabbits and abandonment of the animals.

My question is, the 200 left, are they going to spay/neuter them?
Because if not we're going to see this happening again.

* Don't Breed or Buy while Homeless Pets Die. Opt' to Adopt!
* Adoption is the Living Option.
* Adopting One Rescued Animal Saves Two Lives. The Animal you Adopted, and the Homelss Animal that will take it's Place in the shelter.

Sarita(Dallas)

18870 posts

6/29/2010 12:00 PM

It says they are going to try on the link that you posted and there is someone you can contact at the very end to clarify this.

AndiB.C. Canada

1057 posts

6/29/2010 2:17 PM

Found it...

To manage these Rabbit Control Zones, the University will seek some form of community volunteer support to establish a program of trap / neuter / release or a male vasectomy program to reduce the population of those managed areas recognizing this may need to occur over a four to five year period.

The University will look to the public to support this initiative through financial and volunteer contributions.

The University will consider, with community support, the establishment of a feeding
program to reduce the damage to vegetation, and to encourage the rabbits to remain in these zones.

* Don't Breed or Buy while Homeless Pets Die. Opt' to Adopt!
* Adoption is the Living Option.
* Adopting One Rescued Animal Saves Two Lives. The Animal you Adopted, and the Homelss Animal that will take it's Place in the shelter.

PetzyNorthern AB Canada

Forum Leader

5938 posts

7/02/2010 3:56 PM

I've been to Victoria and I couldn't believe it. There are feral bunnies just chilling at the side of the street. I saw a beautiful harlequin one I almost wanted to take him home.

"what happened?
did something happen or can I just go back to my hay?"

"We called virtually every sanctuary we could find around North America, and we got to Texas and they said, 'OK, send them down,' " said Laura-Leah Shaw, a federal and provincial Green party candidate, who has been working to find places for the animals.

"If we can get something locally, that's fine. But if it's a choice to go to Texas or die, that's an easy choice," she added.

That means the critters are likely to soon be en route to The Wild Rose Rescue Ranch, a 20-hectare rehabilitation farm in eastern Texas.

However, Susan Vickery, of Common Ground, a Gulf Islands-based wildlife assistance organization, is simultaneously working on obtaining provincial permits for a new sanctuary at the World Parrot Refuge near Coombs, B.C.

Refuge owner Wendy Huntbatch has agreed to allow a space for up to 400 spayed and neutered UVic rabbits.

A $50,000 donation from the Fur-Bearer Defenders will pay for spaying and neutering all rabbits trapped, and Vickery has lined up 14 local veterinarians willing to help.

Georganne Lenham, founder and CEO of the Wild Rose Rescue Ranchm in the Tyler area of Texas, said she loves rabbits and knew she had to help when approached by Shaw.

Most animals at the ranch, ranging from pigeons to possums, are rehabilitated and released, but the UVic rabbits will be kept in special enclosures near the creek and woods, Lenham said.

"They will feel free and wild, but they will be protected," she said, adding they will be slowly acclimatized to the heat.

Lenham, a wildlife rehabilitator licensed by the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife, said there are no restrictions on importing domestic rabbits.

However, it is not so straightforward on the Canadian end.

B.C. Environment Minister Barry Penner could declare European domestic rabbits a controlled alien species and they would then be exempt from the Wildlife Act, meaning no relocation permits would be needed, Shaw said.

Environment ministry staff are reviewing an application for the export of 1,000 rabbits to Texas, said a spokeswoman. However, the province also needs a detailed export plan, a Wildlife Act possession permit and an import permit from Texas.

Meanwhile, Tom Smith, of the University of Victoria, says the school aims to trap 400 rabbits next month and, if licensed homes are available, they will be turned over as they are trapped.

"We hope not to kill them — that's a win-win for everyone — but we're going to stick with the plan for a significant reduction in August," he said.

The university has struggled with the ballooning rabbit population for two decades, most of them offspring from pets abandoned on the grounds. UVic says the bunnies destroy trees and shrubs, dig holes in athletics fields that are dangerous to athletes, and carpet the grass with droppings.

In June, the university released a management plan that called for 1,400 rabbits to be killed or sterilized and relocated to sanctuaries. About 200 will be allowed to stay on university grounds.

Victoria Times Colonist

* Don't Breed or Buy while Homeless Pets Die. Opt' to Adopt!
* Adoption is the Living Option.
* Adopting One Rescued Animal Saves Two Lives. The Animal you Adopted, and the Homelss Animal that will take it's Place in the shelter.

Sarita(Dallas)

18870 posts

7/28/2010 1:45 PM

Wow, that is quite a haul! She is about 2 and a half hours from me. That is very cool if she can arrange for transport them.

RabbitPamSouth Florida

Forum Leader

10987 posts

7/28/2010 2:19 PM

Why are they allowing 200 to stay on campus? Will they be speutered first? If not, they will be overrun in a matter of months.

Rainbow Girl Samantha Bunnykins passes the carrot to Spike the Ghost.

jerseygirlAustralia

Forum Leader

18402 posts

7/28/2010 4:55 PM

Big Kudos to all those stepping up to help! That texas sanctury applying to take 1000 is amazing. So typical bureaucrats might end up foiling that plan! Grrrrr!

Question:

Provincial regulations forbid adopting out feral rabbits

What's this about? Is there more info on this somewhere?

I also question the idea behind the remaining 200 RP. They also need to look seriously at penalties in dumping the rabbits if they haven't already, otherwise they'll be right back in this predicament. Surely they know this right?

I've been sort following the UVic situation & appreciate the update.

Whoever says "It's only a rabbit" has obviously never loved a rabbit.

AndiB.C. Canada

1057 posts

7/29/2010 12:41 PM

They start the ones captured to be released will be neutered. But I question what about spaying the females? is this included? If not I see a bad thing happening AGAIN.

How about changing the laws on dumping in the first place? Nothing is done there People will continue to dump them, and if in the designated area (new dumped bucks breeding the old not spayed does?) we could have more breeding, and if in the not designated the animals may be killed.

The lady spear heading this went into the pilot project head on without heeding the warnings and the result was failure and UVic decided to cull. And now teaming up with World Parrot refuge, who apparently i read were looking at having to close as they could not afford to operate and then this is the latest - http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/parksville_qualicumbeachnews/business/95810444.html http://www.cyber-spy.com/ebooks/ebooks/World-Parrot-Refuge-In-Danger-Of-Being-Shutdown-(ebook).pdf These people are pretty much on the brinks of going under, why are they looking at taking on RABBITS? It's great to help, but are we going to be looking for new homes just down the road from now ocne again for these poor critters?

They talk about Volunteering carinf for the remaining rabbits with food and water stations... who are these Volunteers adn where are they going to get them?

So many questions, and to me it seems people helping aren't really digging deep, or have the experiance with the animals. I hope they are successful because really now the *world* is watching and if they succeed, they pave the way for more successes but if they fail, they shut the door for any other attempts. It stinks

* Don't Breed or Buy while Homeless Pets Die. Opt' to Adopt!
* Adoption is the Living Option.
* Adopting One Rescued Animal Saves Two Lives. The Animal you Adopted, and the Homelss Animal that will take it's Place in the shelter.

RabbitPamSouth Florida

Forum Leader

10987 posts

7/29/2010 1:02 PM

Actually, Andi, in the non=profit sector it wouldn't be unheard of to publicly make a generous offer like this and then ask for donations to pay for it. A local TV crew would probably do a piece on it, and that sometimes has a way of getting checks to come in the door, so it would save them. It's kind of putting the cart before the horse, but might work. The world watching supposedly could work to their advantage in getting funds.

Rainbow Girl Samantha Bunnykins passes the carrot to Spike the Ghost.

AndiB.C. Canada

1057 posts

8/04/2010 9:55 AM

B.C. court slaps injunction on UVic's planned bunny massacre

Victoria - The Canadian Press Published on Wednesday, Aug. 04, 2010
9:04AM EDT

The University of Victoria says it has been served with a B.C. Supreme
Court injunction preventing it from attempting to trap and cull feral
rabbits munching through its Victoria, B.C., campus.

Trapping has been suspended while the university deals with the court
action but a statement from UVic also says it continues to work with
community groups trying to find new homes for some of the 1,600 bunnies.

A spokesman for the groups says the injunction provides some breathing
room, because members believe the university planned to cull the rabbits
before arrangements could be made to move them.

Gino Schifrin says a farm in Coombs, north of Nanaimo, has offered to
take some of the bunnies and a rescue organization in Texas is prepared
to take 1,000 of the critters.

But he says red tape has stalled efforts to obtain the necessary permits
to ship the rabbits to their new homes.

As the Globe and Mail reported, the centrepiece of the original plan are
two zones - a "safe zone" in the centre of campus and a "dead zone"
around residences, sports fields and nearby neighbourhoods.

Two hundred of the fuzzy creatures will be allowed to live in the
40-hectare safe zone within the perimeter of Ring Road. Food will be
provided to entice the bunnies to stay within the prescribed space.

The current population creates massive amounts of feces, decimates plant
life and litters the campus with dangerous rabbit holes.

* Don't Breed or Buy while Homeless Pets Die. Opt' to Adopt!
* Adoption is the Living Option.
* Adopting One Rescued Animal Saves Two Lives. The Animal you Adopted, and the Homelss Animal that will take it's Place in the shelter.

jerseygirlAustralia

Forum Leader

18402 posts

8/07/2010 1:37 AM

Wow! Power to the People huh. Spotlight is very definately on this situation.

I'm still mystified by their allowing 200 to remain in the grounds though...

Whoever says "It's only a rabbit" has obviously never loved a rabbit.

AndiB.C. Canada

1057 posts

8/09/2010 7:18 AM

Well they say they are going to sputer/release the 200 rabbits, and have designated feeding stations to try & keep them in those desginated areas. I want to know how they are going to STOP people from dropping off their unwanted, not sputered pet rabbits at those places, so we can start the same thing over. I remember reading about one area doing spay/neuter release, but they did say half of the bunnies, and all the sputereed once got attacked and even killed by the intact rabbits.

I think it's great people are trying to help, and trying to save the lives of all these victim rabbits, BUT I've not read one thing that will stop people from dumping more rabbits there.

* Don't Breed or Buy while Homeless Pets Die. Opt' to Adopt!
* Adoption is the Living Option.
* Adopting One Rescued Animal Saves Two Lives. The Animal you Adopted, and the Homelss Animal that will take it's Place in the shelter.

An animal activist has been granted a permit to transport 1,000 rabbits from the University of Victoria to an animal rescue sanctuary in Texas, saving them from a planned cull.

The Ministry of Environment has given its official approval to Laura-Leah Shaw, a former federal Green Party candidate, to transport the bunnies to the Wild Rose Rescue Ranch. in East Texas.

"They were the only organization that got back to me," said Shaw. "Out of all the places in North America, and they had the capacity."

The university had originally planned to trap and eradicate all but 200 of the furry creatures, but another animal lover was able to obtain a B.C. Supreme Court injunction to prevent this for the time being. Both sides are next due in court Aug. 20.

That extra time allowed Shaw to find Wild Rose, which offers a 50-acre sanctuary. It will even provide a 600-square-foot facility in order to acclimatize the animals to the warmer Texas weather.

Georganne Lenham of the Rescue Ranch said she was happy to accommodate the rabbits when approached by Shaw with the idea.

"We have a love of animals. I'm particularly fond of rabbits, and was happy to help. We'd love to have them live out their lives free and content."

* Don't Breed or Buy while Homeless Pets Die. Opt' to Adopt!
* Adoption is the Living Option.
* Adopting One Rescued Animal Saves Two Lives. The Animal you Adopted, and the Homelss Animal that will take it's Place in the shelter.

MonkeybunHillsboro, Oregon

10511 posts

8/19/2010 12:51 PM

Oh good! I was worried when I first read that article saying they were just going to cull them before they could be shipped south I'm glad they got through the red tape!

AndiB.C. Canada

1057 posts

8/19/2010 1:46 PM

Yeah, this is some great news for the poor bunbuns. But I am still concerned what is going to change so that we can prevent this from happening once again. All it will take is for a couple of people to dump their unwanted Easter Bunny that has not been fixed, off in the areas designated for the altered feral bunnies, to start a new bunny population

It's great to have an organization donate so much money towards the spays and neuters too. I'm glad the bunnies get a chance, because the ones north of us didn't get that then they were all brutally murdered before the public even knew what was going on

* Don't Breed or Buy while Homeless Pets Die. Opt' to Adopt!
* Adoption is the Living Option.
* Adopting One Rescued Animal Saves Two Lives. The Animal you Adopted, and the Homelss Animal that will take it's Place in the shelter.

Sarita(Dallas)

18870 posts

8/20/2010 7:26 AM

I had a friend email me about a possible transport for these rabbits - I have to say though, I think it will be difficult to find transportation unless they rent an air conditioned truck and have 4 or 5 people to drive/ride along with the truck to care for the rabbits along the way. I've done rabbit transports for up to 7 rabbits at a time but never 300...I hope it can happen but I'm not hopeful. I know that when Best Friends had their ginormous rescue a few years back (well more than that) it was a huge undertaking finding transport too.

AndiB.C. Canada

1057 posts

8/20/2010 8:03 AM

Honestly, i don't think this has been really all thought threw. There are no reputable Rabbit Rescues involved, just Government peoples scrambling to save face and move these rabbits. It's a bit distressing, but i sure hope it all can come together, for the sake of those bunnies.

* Don't Breed or Buy while Homeless Pets Die. Opt' to Adopt!
* Adoption is the Living Option.
* Adopting One Rescued Animal Saves Two Lives. The Animal you Adopted, and the Homelss Animal that will take it's Place in the shelter.

Sarita(Dallas)

18870 posts

8/20/2010 8:10 AM

I have to be honest - I'm not sure how these rabbits will survive outside in the Texas heat - it's hot here...And a transport that far away will be extremely stressful on them.

AndiB.C. Canada

1057 posts

8/20/2010 8:18 AM

Well they say they have a facility to climatize them. But what kind of shelter are they going to provide the bunnies from the weather? Here they have a ton of shrubs/trees/etc. to hide under, from what i saw of the pictures, it's pretty bare the dry looking there with little vegitation.

* Don't Breed or Buy while Homeless Pets Die. Opt' to Adopt!
* Adoption is the Living Option.
* Adopting One Rescued Animal Saves Two Lives. The Animal you Adopted, and the Homelss Animal that will take it's Place in the shelter.

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